Avengers: Age of Ultron Overtakes Furious 7
Disney Entertainment’s Avengers: Age of Ultron debuted with a massive $191.27 million last weekend. While that represented the second largest opening weekend performance of all-time, it also represented a notably softer debut than had been widely expected for the film, especially after a relatively strong launch Thursday night. Instead of surpassing the $207.44 million debut of 2012’s Marvel’s The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron had to settle for opening between The Avengers and the $174.14 million debut of 2013’s Iron Man 3. Avengers: Age of Ultron opened 8 percent below The Avengers and 10 percent ahead of Iron Man 3.
That Avengers: Age of Ultron is on course to ultimately gross less domestically than The Avengers isn’t a surprise. But its opening weekend performance being softer than that of its predecessor is a surprise, in part from the fact that Avengers: Age of Ultron will in all likelihood be more front-loaded than The Avengers was, perhaps significantly so. It should be mentioned that Saturday’s performance appears to have taken a hit from the much hyped and long awaited Mayweather vs. Pacquiao boxing match. Game 7 of the Los Angeles Clippers vs San Antonio Spurs NBA Playoffs series and the Kentucky Derby likely also helped take a toll on Saturday’s performance as well.
There is hope that Avengers: Age of Ultron could rebound from its early front-loading going forward. On the other hand, Avengers: Age of Ultron will face tougher initial competition throughout May than The Avengers did back in 2012, at least on paper, from the combination of Universal Pictures’ Pitch Perfect 2, Warner Bros. Studios’Max Max: Fury Road, fellow Disney release Tomorrowland and to a lesser extent from 20th Century Fox’s Poltergeist and Warner Bros.’ Hot Pursuit.
It was a close three-way race for second place between Universal Pictures’ Furious 7, Lionsgate Entertainment’s The Age of Adaline and Sony Pictures’ Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.
After leading the box office for each of the past four weekends, Furious 7 fell to second place last weekend with $6.64 million. The seventh installment of Universal’s blockbuster action franchise was down 63 percent, which was understandable given the debut of Avengers: Age of Ultron and that Saturday’s sports events took a toll on the box office in general. Furious 7 has grossed $331.07 million through 31 days of release. That places the film an extremely impressive 45 percent ahead of the $228.62 million 31-day take of 2013’s Fast & Furious 6.
The Age of Adaline placed in third with $6.20 million. While the romantic drama starring Blake Lively was down 53 percent from its previous weekend’s debut, it also experienced one of the weekend’s stronger percentage holds. The Age of Adaline has grossed $23.38 million in 10 days. With aid from Mother’s Day this coming weekend, The Age of Adaline should experience a stronger third weekend.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 claimed fourth place with $5.88 million. The modestly budgeted Kevin James led comedy sequel fell 60 percent from the previous weekend. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 has grossed $51.52 million in 17 days.
This Week | Last Week | Movie | Weekend Gross | Cumulative Gross | Weeks |
1 | N/A | Avengers: Age of Ultron | $191.27M | $191.27M | 2 |
2 | 1 | Furious 7 | $6.64M | $331.07M | 5 |
3 | 3 | The Age of Adeline | $6.20M | $23.38M | 2 |
4 | 2 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 | $5.88M | $51.52M | 3 |
5 | 4 | Home | $3.47M | $158.30M | 6 |
6 | N/A | Cinderella | $2.74M | $194.04M | 8 |
7 | 6 | Ex Machina | $2.29M | $10.92M | 4 |
8 | 5 | Unfriended | $2.21M | $28.75M | 3 |
9 | 7 | The Longest Ride | $1.70M | $33.25M | 4 |
10 | 10 | Woman in Gold | $1.61M | $24.51M | 5 |
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.